Kyzikos (AD 0-100) AE 20703 viewsca 1st cent AD. AE20 (4.82g). Head of Kore right, grain ear in hair; within a wreath of grain / K-Y/ZI, caduceus, in the center of which is a gorgoneion, the handle is made of a club, crescent above, tunny below, monogram to right; all within a laurel wreath. Near EF, attractive green patina.

Kyzikos (AD 0-100) AE 20504 viewsunder Roman rule, ca 1st cent AD. AE20 (4.02g). Head of Kore right, grain ear in hair; within a wreath of grain / K-Y/ZI, caduceus, in the center of which is a gorgoneion, the handle is made of a club, crescent above, tunny below, monogram to right; all within a laurel wreath. Green patina, gFV. Rare. Gutknecht coll.

Kyzikos (AD 41-43) AE 12 - Britannicus, Antonia and Octavia736 viewsBritannicus, Antonia and Octavia. AE12 (1.69g). Struck early in Claudius’s reign, ca 41 - 43 AD. NEOC ΓE[PMANIKOC], K-Y; bare head of Brittanicus right / [AN] / OK[TA], draped busts Claudia Antonia and Claudia Octavia facing each other. Very rare. About very fine. This issue is struck early in Claudius’s reign while the title is Germanicus before he became known as Brittanicus after AD 43. The other portraits are from Claudia Antonia, daughter of Claudius from his second wife, Aelia Paetina, sister of Sejanus; and Claudia Octavia, Claudius’ son and daughter from his third wife, Valeria Messalina.

In Münsterberg, Die Beamtennamen auf griechischen Münzen, a strategos is mentioned under Severus Alexander named Avr. Aristaidos. Perhaps he is the same as named in the legend. Kyzikos was the king of the Doliones in Mysia.

Kyzikos (AD 138-161) AE 31388 viewsTime of Antoninus Pius, 138-161 AD. AE31 (26.69g). Hipparch Kl. Hestiaios. Head of Kore Soteira left / Two chests, filled with palms each erected on a pole fixed in a cippus; in each chest is also a pole surmounted by a crescent and star. The chest on the right is being pushed into position by means of two poles; the innermost pole being manipulated by two men, while a third man holding a torch (?) stands near the outermost pole. On the upper part of the outermost pole stands another man holding a torch (?) in one of his extended hands: the chest on the left is being erected in the same way, and similar figures are present. Very rare. VF.

Homonoia between cities proclaimed their commonality of interests, like that of "sister-cities" in the modern world, and was based on political, economic and religious connections. The cities of Asia Minor preserved this tradition under the Roman Empire, with an extensive interlinked system of such commonalities. Among the cities participating in homonoia, Ephesus seems to have been the most popular, undoubtedly due to its status as the principal cult center of Artemis. Cyzicus, an economic powerhouse due to its location on the southern shore of the Propontis, dominated the trade routes between the Black Sea and the Aegean since the Classical period. Thus, a reciprocal alliance between the major regional trader and the cult site would benefit each other immensely.

This type cannot be adequately explained, but must refer to some local myth or cult practice. The Vienna piece shares the same reverse scene but is smaller and must be earlier in date, with a younger portrait shown laureate, draped, and cuirassed.

Over the later part of Commodus’ reign, numerous events suggest the emperor was becoming mentally ill. Commodus thought of himself as the reincarnation of Hercules, even dressing as the hero at gladiatorial events.

Kyzikos (AD 253-268) AE 24 - Gallienus111 viewsGallienus, 253-268 AD. AE24 (7.16g, 12h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / K[Y]/ZIKHN/ΩN NЄOKOP/ΩN (with Z retrograde) in five lines within wreath. Unpublished in the standard references without the inclusion of the name of a strategos in the wreath. Near Fine, green patina, some porosity. Ex Liles coll.

The attribution of a specific Julio-Claudian prince to each of these portraits remains a matter of conjecture. Mionnet believed them to be portraits of Gaius and Lucius Caesars, an interpretation the authors of RPC believed quite plausible. They do note, however, that the index to the von Aulock collection interprets this issue both as Gaius and Lucius, and Drusus and Germanicus, all of whom became potential heirs to the imperial throne. Barring any more conclusive evidence, the matter will remain unresolved.